Diageo CEO: Europe Market Is Lackluster

Paul Walsh, CEO of Diageo, tells CNBC the company are increasing their dividend again by nine percent but continue to see difficulty with consumer expenditure in Southern Europe.

Diageo, the world's biggest spirits maker, reported slowing growth in earnings on Thursday and the CEO told CNBC the Europe market was lackluster.

The company, which owns brands such as Johnnie Walker, Captain Morgan, Baileys and Guinness said operating profits rose 9 percent over the previous year. Earnings per share also increased by 9 percent compared to the previous year, but that growth rate was down from 16 percent in the comparable period a year ago.

"We're continuing to see very strong performance from the new high growth markets. The U.S. is performing strong. Europe is more lackluster," CEO Paul Wash told CNBC Thursday.

"We continue to see difficulty with consumer expenditure in southern Europe."